The great road debate

CONTROVERSIAL plans to introduce congestion charging on the roads of Greater Manchester face intense scrutiny when key players in the plans go head-to-head on TV. Organised by the M.E.N., the Question Time-style debate will take place at Manchester's Urbis on Tuesday evening before an audience of business and council leaders and M.E.N. readers.

CONTROVERSIAL plans to introduce congestion charging on the roads of Greater Manchester face intense scrutiny when key players in the plans go head-to-head on TV.

Organised by the M.E.N., the Question Time-style debate will take place at Manchester's Urbis on Tuesday evening before an audience of business and council leaders and M.E.N. readers.

It will be televised by our sister TV station Channel M.

Sir Richard Leese , leader of Manchester council and one of the bid team, will be on the panel. He will face Graham Stringer , his predecessor as council leader, now MP for Blackley, a member of the Commons transport committee and a fierce opponent of charging.

Trafford Centre owners Peel Holdings are sending managing director Andrew Simpson to explain their opposition. Their own survey put 80 per cent of businesses against the charge.

Environmental campaigner Dave Coleman will represent an alliance of voluntary organisations supporting congestion charging. Drivers will be represented by Sean Corker , who leads pressure group Manchester Against Road Tolls, which has launched a petition against the idea.

Speaking for the business community will be environment consultant Miranda Allan , vice-president of Wigan Chamber of Commerce and chairman of Greater Manchester Chamber's environment and transport committee.

The evening will begin with a short explanation of the plans by Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive head of planning Dave Newton, who will stay to explain any technical points which arise during the debate.

Questions will be submitted to chairman Andy Crane in advance, but the panel will not have sight of them. The debate comes at the height of the consultation process to decide whether Greater Manchester should press ahead with a bid to the government for money from its Transport Innovation Fund. This could bring £3bn for public transport improvements - including three new Metrolink extensions in return for agreeing to be a pilot area for road pricing.

The leaders of Greater Manchester's 10 district councils have until the end of this month to decide whether to submit the bid.

The government will decide which of 10 authorities in England should get the money by December.